Setting device for type drum printers



Aug. 29, 1967 KERN 3,339,021

SETTING DEVICE FOR TYPE DRUM PRINTERS Filed July 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 2; 1963 Aug. 29, 1967 H. KERN 3,339,021

SETTING DEVICE FOR TYPE DRUM PRINTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent j 3,339,021 SETTING DEVICE FOR TYPE DRUM PRINTERS Hans Kern, Munich, Germany, assignor to Siemens &

Halske Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin and Munich, Germany, a corporation of German Y Filed July 23, 1963, Ser. No. 297,107

Claims priority, applicatio1; Germany, Aug. 7, 1962,

6 Claims. (Cl. 178-34) The invention disclosed herein is concerned with a device for a five element code teleprinter machine, for setting symbols, arranged in eight rows upon a type drum peripherally and axially thereof, by means of successively positioned aggregate motion planetary gearing having per gear stage a gear ratio of 1:2 and 2:1, respectively, said gearing being via setting members adjustable in accordance with the binary code combination elements and the code combination signifying figureor letter change associated .with the respective members.

It is in connection with high speed type drum printers necessary to keep the moving masses and the inertia moment of the type carrier small. The setting device must be constructed so that the setting or adjusting paths of the type carrier are as small as possible and that a part of the printer revolution time which is as great as possible, is available for the setting. Known printers either require an extensive or complicated device for the selection of the respective symbols which are to be printed or they operate inaccurately or not fast enough owing to the great masses involved. Successively disposed planetary gearing, forming a so-called aggregate motion mechanism, require less expenditure. However, such gears cannot be constructed with as many stages as desired, because the gear tooth play is'multiplied and the paths or forces required for the setting become too great.

The object of the invention is to improve the indicated teleprinter machines, especially those which operate according to the five-element alphabet. Particular advantages of the invention reside in the provision of a teleprinter machine which can be produced at relatively low cost and which is functionally simple and reliable.

According to the invention, this object is realized in connection with a five-code teleprinter comprising a type drum having respectively peripherally and in axial direction eight symbol rows, by the provision of a twostage planetary gear assembly, respectively for the axial setting and for the rotational setting of the type drum, and setting bars for adjusting in two positions the first sun gear and the two planetary gear pairs of the respective planetary assembly.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the setting bars, which are via setting members selectable in accordance with the binary code combination elements and the combination signifying figureor letter change, are within the range of a rocker, which is by means of a control cam movable about a fixed point, so arranged that the planet gears and the sun gear of both planetary assemblies are simultaneously set by the setting bars responsive to the motion of the rocker. The

two cooperatively disposed oppositely operating setting bars are preferably arranged in direct engagement, each slidable upon the other.

The device provided according to the invention, as indicated above, results in considerable advantages. For example, the two aggregate motion planetary assemblies, which are controlled by the setting bars, respectively rotate and shift the type drum directly from one printing position to the next, as compared with many other known printers in which the type carrier must be restored to a normal position prior to each new setting. The entire the sun gears and acting as dead-point springs for a not illustrated receiver. "clockwise direction by the action of spring 2, andrerevolution time of the printer is thus available for the setting of the type drum, while the switching-over of the planetary assemblies takes place simultaneously with the printer release, the printing proper being effected only at the end of the printer revolution.

According to another feature of the invention, there are provided springs for cooperation with the setting bars, for pressing the planet-gear pairs into engagement with fixing the Setting bars with respect to stops which are preferably adjustable. The arrangement of the springs and the adjustable stops make it possible, for example, to make the dimensions of the respective gears and the setting bars with rough tolerances, since the accurate setting is effected by the setting of the stops.

type drum adjustment or setting device according to the invention, in connection with a typewriter having an axially stationary paper leading drum; and

FIG. 2 indicates in simplified representation one of i the planetary gear assemblies for the rotational setting of the type drum, only one set of setting members being shown for convenience.

In order to operatively release the printer of a teleprinter machine, the lever 1 is released by the action of This lever rotates in counterleases the five selector levers 3. These latter levers can follow the motion of the lever 1 provided that they are not prevented from doingso by the combination lever 4 of the receiver. The levers 3 prepare the direction of motion of the respective three or two stages of the aggregate motion gear assembly, according to the polarity of the received elements, by placing either the upper setting bars 8 or the lower setting bars 9 within the range of the rocker 10, before the actuation of a clutch 5 which drives a shaft 7 and therewith a cam 6. The rocker 10 is held in engagement with the cam 6 by the action of a spring 11 and is responsive to rotation of the cam moved back and forth. A further pair of bars 12, 13 is in similar manner controlled by the action of the letter-figure changeover device. Details of the letter-figure changeover device have been omitted in the drawing so as to keep it simple; The tilting of the lever 1 also elfects operative release of the clutch 5.

The drive of the two aggregate motion planetary gear assemblies 14, 15 is effected by the action of the rocker 10 with the aid of the setting bars 8 or 9, which are in the range of the rocker 10 arranged so as to slide one upon the other, indirectly with the aid of setting bars 16 which act respectively in cooperation with planet-gears 17 and in conjunction with a lever 18, upon the respective first sun gear 19 of the two aggregate motion planetary gear assemblies 14, 15. The gear ratio is in the case of the assembly 15, 2:1 and in the case of the assembly 14, 1:2.

A toothed wheel 21 is fixedly connected with the drive sun-wheel 20, the gear 21 cooperating with a toothed segment 22. The latter is pivotally journalled upon a shaft 23, its lever arm 24 carrying a cable roller 25. Pivotal motion of the cable roller 25 about the shaft 23 causes axial shifting of the type drum 27, by means of a cable 26 which serves at the same time for the advance of the type drum 27 and the printing hammer 28.

The type drum 27 is longitudinally movably but not rotatably, journalled upon a key shaft 29. Upon the shaft 29 is arranged the drive planet gear 30 of the aggregate a motion gear assembly 14, so that the rotation of the type drum 27 is adjustable by the action of the assembly 14. p

The operation of the rocker 10 also effects further functions as, for example, the motion of the printing hammer and the advance. Springs 31 are arranged for cooperation with the pull bars 16 for pressing the planetgear pairs such as 17 in driving engagement with the respective sun gear, thus securing a meshing of the gears without play and at the same time acting as dead-point springs to fix the terminal positions of the setting bars at'the stops 32. which may be adjusted in desired fixed positions.

It is within the scope of the invention possible to use six-element code symbols wherein the sixth element takes the place of the letter-figure switch-over employed in the described example.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims which define what is believed to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. A device for a five element code teleprinter machine, for setting symbols arranged in eight rows upon a type drum peripherally and axially thereof, comprising a twostage aggregate motion planetary gear assembly for the axial setting and a two-stage aggregate motion planetary gear assembly for the rotational setting of the type drum, a respective bar for setting the first sun gear and each planet-gear pair of the respective stages in either of two positions, spring means with a planet-gear pair operative to urge the corresponding planet-gear pair in meshing engagement with their cooper-able sun gears, and stationary stops cooperable with the respective setting bars to determine the respective positions thereof, said spring means being disposed to also tend to retain the corresponding setting bar in either of the respective positions thereof as determined by said stops.

for each setting bar associated 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said stops are adjustable.

3. A device according to claim 1 comprising a rocker selected by code-responsive selector members, to effect simultaneous setting of the planetary gears and the first sun gear of the respective aggregate motion planetary gear assemblies.

4; A device according to claim 1, comprising a cable mechanism for effecting the axial positioning of the type drum responsive to actuation of the corresponding planetary gear assembly, operative to also effect the advance of the type drum and a cooperable printing hammer.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the gear ratio of each stage of the planetary assembly for the axial motion of said type drum has a gear ratio of 1:2, and each stage of that for the rotational motion of said type drum has a gear ratio of 2:1.

6. A device according to claim 5, comprising a pair of oppositely actuated mutually cooperating setting bars, for eachsettable sun gear or planetary gear pair, the bars of each pair being arranged one other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS- 2,080,966 5/1937 Griffith 178-34 2,167,505 7/1939 Griffith 178-34 2,539,509 1/ 1951 Estoup 178-34 FOREIGN PATENTS 529,983 5/ 1940 Great Britain.

NEIL c. READ, Primary Examiner. THOMAS A. ROBINSON, Examiner.

directly slidable upon the 

1. A DEVICE FOR A FIVE ELEMENT CODE TELEPRINTER MACHINE, FOR SETTING SYMBOLS ARRANGED IN EIGHT ROWS UPON A TYPE DRUM PERIPHERALLY AND AXIALLY THEREOF, COMPRISING A TWOSTAGE AGGREGATE MOTION PLANETARY GEAR ASSEMBLY FOR THE AXIAL SETTING AND A TWO-STAGE AGGREGATE MOTION PLANETARY GEAR ASSEMBLY FOR THE ROTATIONAL SETTING OF THE TYPE DRUM, A RESPECTIVE BAR FOR SETTING THE FIRST SUN GEAR AND EACH PLANET-GEAR PAIR OF THE RESPECTIVE STAGES IN EITHER OF TWO POSITIONS, SPRING MEANS FOR EACH SETTING BAR ASSOCIATED WITH A PLANET-GEAR PAIR OPERATIVE TO URGE THE CORRESPONDING PLANET-GEAR PAIR IN MESHING ENGAGEMENT WITH THEIR COOPERABLE SUN GEARS, AND STATIONARY STOPS COOPERABLE WITH THE RESPECTIVE SETTING BARS TO DETERMINE THE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS THEREOF, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING DISPOSED TO ALSO TEND TO RETAIN THE CORRESPONDING SETTING BAR IN EITHER OF THE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS THEREOF AS DETERMINED BY SAID STOPS. 